Quirky bookmarks for the bookworm

If you are a bookworm like yours truly, who loves devouring books by the dozen, you will appreciate the importance of the bookmark. Our earliest exposure to this necessity was thanks to an enterprising school friend who made cute paper versions with hand-sketched images of Winnie the Pooh and his friends.

Priced at Rs 5, they were instant hits. As adults, we refined our choices and looked for curious options. The elegant metallic versions crafted by Anand Prakash fit the bill nicely. A regular sight at most Kala Ghoda festivals, the Delhi-based Prakash crafts metallic bookmarks that come in curious shapes and designs.

He has unveiled his latest collection, as advertised on his website, and we couldn't resist a peep. It features designs of a man riding a camel, vernacular alphabets in sequence as well as bookmarks shaped like cars, fishes and birds. While they make for attractive gifts, they won't burn a hole in your pocket (Rs 200 upwards).

A good idea would be to gift these unique bookmarks to your book-loving friends as Diwali gifts -- it's sure to keep you in their good books.